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"Chips Report" From Packers Win Vs. Jets

Our weekly designations from the Green Bay Packers' 9-0 victory over the New York Jets...

Blue Chips

Tramon Williams–In the first game after it was reported the Packers have offered him a contract extension in the same range as Al Harris, Williams had a hand in two Packers turnovers. The first was a fumble recovery, which Frank Zombo forced. The second was an interceptions ripped from the hands of Jericho Cotchery. That's in addition to a pass broken up in the endzone on a third down in the fourth quarter, also intended for Cotchery, one of two pass break ups on the day.

Tim Masthay–Following the loss to the Miami Dolphins, head coach Mike McCarthy called out Masthay, and he's performed ever since. For the second game in a row, he's punted very well. As far as punters go, it will be tough for Masthay to eclipse today's performance. Of his eight punts, five were placed inside the 20. Only one was returned, and that was for 0 yards. On the day, he had 8 punts for a 44.0 yard gross average and a 41.5 yard net. A new bar has been set for Masthay going forward.

Red Chips

Charlie Peprah–The way Charlie Peprah has been playing over the past couple weeks, it's going to be tough for Atari Bigby to re-claim the starting job. The strongest part of his game is run support, of which Peprah contributed four tackles. But even more crucial today may have been his fourth quarter, fourth down pass break up of a pass also intended for Jericho Cotchery.

Howard Green–Considering Green took part in all of one practice and isn't very well versed in the Packers defense, he did yeoman's work today. He basically assumed the role of Ryan Pickett playing both end in the base defense and occasionally inside in the nickel, plus giving B.J. Raji a few snaps off at the nose. But the way the Packers stopped the vaunted Jets rushing offense was a thing of beauty, and Green had as much to do with it as anybody. Take away the 17 yard run given up off the fake punt on special teams, and the Packer defense only gave up 3.5 yard per carry to entire Jets offense including LaDanian Tomlinson.

Cow Chips

James Jones–Jones came away without a single catch despite being targeted three times. While targets can be a deceiving statistic, Jones also had a drop on a deep pass down the right sideline, which would have given the Packers a first down (if not a touchdown) and taken some pressure off the defense. The drop is part of a larger trend with Jones, in which he just can't seem to take himself to the next level and has been plagued by either drops or fumbles or not being on the same page as the quarterback.

Andrew Quarless–It may be unfair to give a "cow chip" to an injured player, but his second quarter drop on third down was part of the reason the Packers only converted 2 of 14 third downs on the day, a horrendous 14% success rate.

I stood up and announced to my friends "Clay Matthews could take a vacation for the rest of the season and he'd still have earned every cent of his contract because of two back to back plays like that."

When it matters most, Clay gets a sack, then comes back and makes a great effort and nearly pulls off another with great motor and never-quit attitude that gets him past the double team with a third or fourth attempt and gets in sanchez' face.

He's the real deal. Hard to believe it was only a year and a half ago that Packers fans everywhere were screaming at the T.V.: "We traded up.. AND TOOK WHO?!?!".. More than a handful of fans murmured "We took the wrong LB". Hindsight, it's a funny thing.

Took the wrong guy? Are you kidding? When the Pack traded up for Matthews, I was ecstatic. Granted, I'm quite a draft junkie so I was pretty well versed in what this guy could bring to a 3-4 defense. Awesome pick, along with Raji. Apparently, TT does know what he's doing.

The PAckers forums around the web were full of people screaming about the Clay Matthews pick. Honestly, I didn't know much about him, but once I watched some highlight reels and scouting reports, I was fine with the pick- his motor was obvious on film.

At any rate, yeah, tons of people were going nuts that the Packers moved up to take Matthews.

i have NEVER been more proud of my team! tramon williams had the game of his LIFE! peprah was clutch too and masthay was great too. our offense is horrible. jennings was the only one who made any big plays today. i thought the o-line was pretty good overall although most everyone had brain farts today (clifton, bulaga, sitton). what an amazing win though!

Rodgers played well. The statistics don't show it, but he protected the football, and didn't force throws that ended up in turn overs. Obvs you don't want to see an under 50% completion average ever, but he didn't get frustrated, and we came away with enough points to win.

I really think the wind was a bigger factor than most realize. Neither offense could do much through the air. Sanchez's long completions were wobblers where someone got open and had enough time. Not a day for precision throwing.

Great character showing by the Packers. Shutting out the Jets at home with a patchwork defense was a thing of beauty. Obtaining something that hasn't been achieved by a Packer team in almost 20 years, should earn every man on the defense a "blue chip".

On ESPN they're talking about how the two INTs weren't really interceptions.

If I had the chance to ask the NFL or Mike Pereira a question here's what it would be: If the receiver is required to maintain control of the ball all the way to the ground, and the defender knocks it out of his hands and it hits the turf, even after the guy's knee is down, that's an incomplete pass.

Now if the defender gets that ball before it hits the ground, isn't that required to be an INT? And isn't that *exactly* what happened in those two INTs? The receiver did NOT maintain possession all the way to the ground and the defenders came up with the ball.

If you have the rule that for what constitutes a complete pass, aren't you required then to call those interceptions?

Let me put it another way. Suppose that those were ruled catches and down by contact, could the Packers have challenged on the grounds that the receiver did *NOT* maintain possession all the way to the ground?

This defense gives more with less than any defense we've seen in a long time. What heart, what character, what determination, and what results!

The special teams- take the good, take the bad, take em both and there ya have, the facts of life. We've lost games because of them, and been kept in games because of them.

The offense - I just don't think anyone could have predicted how downright lousy they'd be. Yes, we knew the 3rd down percentage would have to come back to earth - but in precipitous free-fall? Some of it is on the receivers, some on the QB... but I seem to be coming to the conclusion that the strategy and tactics aren't suitably taking what's given and getting the most out of the skills available.

That said, given all the injuries, that this team is so close to being very, very good is quite amazing. It's unavoidable to say - the skill is still the limit. I'm looking forward to the next 8.

A lot of the offense's struggles has to do with opposing defenses playing seven men in zone coverage on almost every play. Rodgers has torched man coverage and blitzing defenses in the past. Now without a running game, defenses just sit back and prevent the a.) deep play b.) medium play AND c.) the short play all at once because there's no need to worry about our running game.

Rodgers said in his press conference that they expected the Jets to continue blitzing at a rate of about 50% in this game and playing man 80% of the time - but they came out and played 7 or 8 man zone on almost every play.

Sometime Rodgers and the offense (including play callers) is just going to have to get used to it and figure out how beat these zone defense a little at a time all the way up and down the field.

I don't mean to pick nits, but I gotta go with a blue chip for Peprah. Just really solid in run support and he put a coupla hits on to break up receptions a key times...one in particular in the 4th Q that was just a crushing blow. I am really very impressed by him.

Jones reminds me a lot of Robert Ferguson with enough flashes to get your hopes up only to dash them with key bonehead mistakes...just doesn't seem to mentally be "in the game" most of the time.

Also, I know Shields got beat badly and was saved only by an inexplicable drop by Santonio Holmes. But other than that, is Shields stepping up like crazy this year or what? He's on the field a fair amount and he seems to be shutting his guys down for the most part. Am I right on this???

About had it with McCarthy playcalling again. No screen pass in the playbook any more?? Keeping Kuhn in on third down plays and not Jackson? Not letting Kuhn or Jackson release so Rogers has an outlet under pressure? No slant plays on third and 5 anymore? Thank God the defense played so well! Expect MM and Rogers to get it going next week against weak Dallas secondary!

Any word on Driver? Hope he isn't hurt too bad. When giving Rodgers criticism today remember the secondary he is throwing to. Revis and Cromartie are no "slouches" I think A-Rod was playing it safe esp. how often he threw it away.

i think driver is more banged up than we know about. i think they should've kept him out yesterday. they should sit him next week too. we are going to need him down the stretch if we're gonna make a run for anything.

Four and five wide sets kept the vaunted Jet defense/LB in dime all day long and unable to get their usual pressure on the QB. The Jets tried first to put LBs and receivers but quickly abandoned it (and their pressure) for extra DBs.

OL playing as a real unit the past two days, making up for episodic miscues by Beluga and College.

Kuhn continues to be huge for the offense, running hard and dishing out punishment to opposing lineman and LBs.

Kuhn was wide open in the flat with an easy TD when Rogers locked on the back of the end-zone for several seconds and sailed one out the back end.

Jones gets open but doesn't seem to get the mental part of the game, including concentrating through the catch.

(while at the game) I watched AR on each play and you guys are KILLING him for playing TURNOVER FREE, situational football, trusting in his receivers and defense as part of a TEAM. He played winning football today, never jeopardizing field position or forcing a throw when he didn't have to.

Hate to say I told you so (okay I don't) but the resurrection of Jennings this week came with them calling under routes from the slot position (out of necessity) because flanked out wide the Jets picked up Jenning with Cromatie/Revis while they weren't on him in the slot/on the under routes.

Anyone notice Driver get injured and leave the game in the second quarter? AR also twisted his left ankle when turning awkwardly in the 4th.

Rodgers is slumping, but I can't beat him up too bad. He played on the road, in the windy Meadowlands, against probably the best defense in football. And the BIGGEST thing is, the Jets were coming off a bye and probably gave Rodgers a whole bunch of unscouted looks. I have to think a lot of QBs in this league, in the same scenario, would have turned the ball over a lot.

I give credit to Jordy Nelson for making some key completions. He definitely was the key receiver on offense this game. Rodgers hasn't been the same since the concussion. Hopefully he shakes it off and gets his head back in the game. Was lovin the Defense at the game yesterday...Was great having seeing my team play live again. GO PACK GO chant at the end of the 4th rocked!

Quote

"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."